Snapback Is the Way Forward Against Iran’s Nuclear Violations
Even if they have since been abandoned, the Biden administration’s recent efforts to avoid cen-suring Iran’s nuclear safeguards violations reflect a fundamental lack of any strategy to address Tehran’s push toward the nuclear weapons threshold. This self-induced caution will backfire by making oft-stated U.S. concerns and threats ring hollow, undermining already-weakened U.S. credibility in Tehran’s eyes, and further hurting inspectors’ efforts to regain transparency into Iran’s nuclear program precisely when it is needed most. Working closely with its European part-ners, and backstopped by Congress, the administration should use this week’s IAEA board meeting to refer Iran’s violations to the UN Security Council, “snap back” prior robust prohibitions on Iran’s illegal nuclear activities, and build up added pressures to deter further Iranian nuclear escalation.